City of Moreton Bay is planning an “Australia-first” pilot of AI-powered traffic signal control, aimed at reducing unnecessary wait times at red lights and improving traffic flow across its road network.
The council said the trial will test a “movement-based” approach to signal control, marking a shift away from the phase-based methodology used in Australia since the 1980s. Under phase-based control, traffic lights run on a pre-determined sequence and grouping, typically operating on a “first come, first served” basis.
Under the proposed next-generation approach, traffic signal hardware would manage individual vehicle and pedestrian movements rather than being tied to fixed sequences. The council said the system is intended to reduce delays at signalised intersections and allow traffic to be prioritised by road user type, including buses and cyclists.
Mayor Peter Flannery said the technology could reduce time spent waiting at red lights and cut vehicle idling. “There is the potential to substantially reduce the time motorists spend unnecessarily sitting at red lights, which is often constrained by legacy traffic control methods,” he said. “This presents the opportunity to reduce emissions as vehicles will idle less at traffic lights.”
The trial is being tested at the intersection of Moreton Parade and Paper Avenue in Petrie, with the council stating it will be implemented at the intersection later this year.
According to the council, installation involves replacing existing traffic signal controllers with next-generation controllers designed to make real-time decisions using AI and advanced algorithms, including with existing in-ground loop detectors. The council also plans to install advanced vehicle detection sensors to collect traffic data, classify road users (including cars, trucks, pedestrians and cyclists), and support traffic optimisation and traffic flow prediction.
If the Petrie pilot is successful, the council said it will test the system at a more complex intersection.
